Rajendra Kerkar
Ker (Sattari): In the wee hour of Sunday, while crossing the road in Kone-Priol, a black panther was injured badly and later died tragically after failing to get quick veterinary medical care and treatment.
Residents were shocked over the death of the black panther as they never saw it and were unaware of the presence of the wild animal. Though the black panther is a leopard its unique black colour is indeed an attraction and a puzzle for the wildlife.
Today, rapid urbanisation and a speedy pace of development have been taking a huge toll on the lush green forest, the natural habitat for wildlife. Without understanding ecological equilibrium, today we are destroying forests to facilitate road widening, railways and other projects brought in the name of development.
As per the forest department records, Ponda taluka hardly has significant forest cover. Whatever, Private Forest identified repeatedly by the Committees appointed by the Goa government, today already on the way to extinction.
The tribal Gauda and other communities who were living in tune with nature, with an intense degree of love protected and conserved forest which too helped wildlife, ecology and environment to thrive.
However, the undertaking of houses, bungalows, and residential complexes, inside the forested areas as well as in the horticultural fields has decimated the natural habitat extensively.
The catchment areas of springs, streams, and rivulets too have been destroyed on a massive scale, which resulted in the degradation and destruction of sources of potable water once quenching the thirst of innumerable species of wildlife.
Goa Forest Department has initiated an inquiry into the incident of the death of a melanistic leopard that took place during the wee hours of Sunday caused by the hitting of speedy vehicle. The absence of a well-equipped and well trained team of 24×7 rescuers, and veterinary doctors under independent Forest Officers, has been posing a grave threat to the wild animals when injured seriously or struggling for survival when met with an accident.
Destruction of the forest on account of encroachment done for the expansion of the cashew plantation and other horticultural crops, degradation of water holes in the jungle, and increasing poaching of the wild herbivores have resulted in displacing the leopards and forcing them to venture into the areas near human settlement where they can thrive on stray cattle and stray dogs.
During the summer season, cases of leopards entering very near the human settlement are continuously on the rise. Even inside the Wildlife sanctuaries, national parks government reserves and private forests, there is no safe access to these wild animals. Construction of houses, bungalows and other amenities inside the forest is also on the rise.
The Goa government hardly plans and implements visionary mitigation measures for resolving human-wildlife conflict rather wants to undertake new initiatives inside the core areas where once wildlife used to thrive happily. Cases of sloth bears attacking humans, and leopards killing stray dogs, cattle, and bison relying on pineapple, banana, and cashew apples too are on the rise and blame is totally cast on the wildlife.
If we fail to understand the reality behind wildlife displacement and disturbances, it will certainly lead to more serious and complex environmental issues that will threaten our own survival as well as our sources of livelihood.
